Puzzle



OnA. MAPEL.

`PUZZLE.

No. 574,158.- Patented Dec. 29,` '1896.

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ORA A. MAPEL, OF SIATLERS RUN, IVEST VIRGINIA.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,158, dated December29, 1896- Applioation iiled July 1,1896. Serial No. 597,749. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern,t

Be it known that I, ORA A. MAPEL, a citizen' of the United States,residing at Statlers Run, in the county of Monongalia and State of WestVirginia, have invented certain new `and useful Improvements in Puzzles,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new, amusing, and instructive puzzle, andhas for its object to provide a device of this description by whichendlessfamusement may be afforded both old and young in its manipulationand solution, and which at the same time will test the capacity of aperson to distinguish one color from another,thereby giving instructionto children.

Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth,and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, its constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a perspective of my improvement,illustrating the manner ofoperating the same; Fig. 2, a plan view showing the several balls usedin connection therewith within the center of the tray; Fig. 3, a reverseplan view showing the relation of the color-spots to the holes, and Fig.4f a cross-section illustrating the method of holding the balls in placeafter having been properly located by the placing of a cover over thetray before inverting the same.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tray or box consisting of anannular iiange or band A and abottom B, so located therein as to form acompartment upon each side thereof, and in practice I prefer that thisbottom shall be nearer the top than the bottom edge thereof. Holes C arelocated equidistant from each other within the bottom and near theperiphery thereof, which are preferably eight in number and have thenames of the several colors written next adjacent thereto, as, forinstance, red, brown, pink, yellow, blue, scarlet, green, and gray.

The center portion of the tray is occupied by semicircular partitions D,having spaces between their ends, so as to permit the passage of theballs E therefrom after having been placed within these partitions.

The reverse Side of the bottom is provided with spots F, whichcorrespond in color to the color of the several balls and also to thenames written next adjacent the holes upon the opsite side of thebottom.

The method of operating the puzzle is as follows The balls are placedwithin the center of the box and the box grasped in the hands and givena to-and-fro tilting motion until the several balls are rolled withinthe holes having the names of the respective colors opposite theretowhich correspond to the balls, and as these holes are of a vsizesufficient to arrest the movements of the balls, but not to permit theirpassage through the bottom, it will be seen that the balls will beretained in position.

It will be found that considerable patience and skill are required to somanipulate the tray as to bring the several balls to their proper holes,and it also will require the use of the faculty of distinguishing thecolors of the balls, in order that they may be located in the holehaving the'name of the color of the ball placed therein.

After all of the balls have been properly placed in accordance with theidea of the person operating the puzzle, the cover Gis placed over thebox, so as to prevent the balls from falling without the holes in whichthey are located, and the tray is then inverted, in order that theoperator may compare the color of each ball with the spot F locatedaround the hole through which said ball appears,by which means it maythen be determined whether the balls were properly located in regard totheir color, which will either verify the lcorrectness of the operatorseye in determining the several colors of the balls or detect thediscrepancy therein. As many persons are color-blind, although not awareofthe fact, the operation of this puzzle will convince them that such isthe case and at the same time aiford much amusement to the onlookers.

Slight modifications might be made in the arrangement of the severalparts of this puzzle without departing from the spirit of my invention,and I therefore do not wish to be IOO limited to the exact design shownanddescribed.

That I claim as new and useful isl. A puzzle consisting of a traycomposed of a circular Wall, a transverse partition dividing the trayinto two compartments, said partition having holes formed therethrough,balls of different colors adapted to fit in said holes and protrudethrough to the opposite side of the partition, said holes beingdesignated by names of colors on one side and the colors Correspondingto the name on the opposite side, as and for the purpose described.

2. A puzzle consisting of a tray composed of a circular Wall, atransverse partition dividing the tray into two compartments, one beingshallower than the other, said partition ORA A. MAPEL.

\Vitnesses:

S. WILLIAMSON, J. B. FURMAN.

